Plum blossoms are blooming all over the country; Hikanzakura blooming announced in Naha

2026/01/18 21:27

As of today, the 18th (Sunday), plum blossoms are blooming in various parts of eastern Japan, western Japan, and Okinawa. Today, it was announced that plum blossoms will bloom in three locations: Kumagaya, Fukuoka, and Naha.



The earliest plum blossoms to bloom this season were in Matsuyama, where blooming was announced on December 23, 2025, ahead of the rest of the country. In 2026, it was announced that plum blossoms will bloom on January 5th in Shizuoka. From the 11th onwards, warm air was able to enter mainly from the Pacific Ocean side, and there were some warm days reminiscent of spring, so plum blossoms began to bloom one after another in various places. In Tokyo, plum blossoms were announced to bloom on January 14th.
Both locations have flowering dates that are significantly earlier than last year in normal years. As of 8 p.m. today, the 18th, the flowers were already in bloom, and Naha is the only place in the world where the flowers bloomed later than in normal years and last year.



Also, in Naha, it has been announced that Hikanzakura will bloom today, Saturday the 18th. The flowering date was two days later than normal and 13 days later than last year.

This season's strongest cold waves have arrived and the winter weather continues. Fear of heavy snow and blizzard mainly on the Sea of ??Japan side

2026/01/18 17:52

Tomorrow, the 19th (Monday), a low pressure system will approach from the west, and the day after tomorrow, the 20th (Tuesday), the low pressure system is expected to rapidly develop and move from near northern Japan to the east of Japan.






After that, strong winter-like pressure patterns will continue around Japan until around the 25th (Sunday).
As the strong cold air moves southward, there will be rough weather and heavy snow in some places, especially along the Sea of Japan coast from northern to western Japan.





From around the 21st to the 25th, there is a risk of rough weather, heavy snow, and blizzards mainly on the Japan Sea side from northern Japan to western Japan, and there is a risk of heavy snow even in flat areas.
Also, on the sea, there will be barges on the Sea of Japan side from northern Japan to western Japan.
Please be careful of traffic obstructions and damage to agricultural facilities due to heavy snowfall, and be careful of traffic obstructions due to snowdrifts, strong winds, and high waves.

However, if the cold air in the sky becomes stronger than expected, or if snow clouds that have developed continue to cover the same area, there is a possibility of heavy snowfall.

From eastern Japan to western Japan, the temperature drop is relatively high for this time of year, so be careful of daily temperature differences.

2026/01/18 07:22

Today, the 18th (Sunday), there will be a winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern mainly in northern Japan, and cold air in the upper atmosphere is expected to move southward. Temperatures are likely to drop in many places compared to yesterday (17th), which was the warmest day on record for January.



The predicted maximum temperature is Sapporo 0c, Sendai 6c, Tokyo 13c, Nagoya 14c, Kanazawa 8c, Osaka 13c, Kochi 18c, and Fukuoka 16c.
Although the temperature will not rise as much as the previous day in each area, there are many places where it is higher than normal during the day, so you will feel comfortable during the day.
The temperature rises during the day, but mornings and evenings continue to cool down, resulting in large temperature differences throughout the day. It would be a good idea to choose your clothes according to the time you will be leaving.

Today's weather on the 18th (Sunday): Snow and rain on the Sea of ??Japan side of northern Japan, clear winter skies on the Pacific side

2026/01/18 06:16

Today, the 18th (Sunday), there will be a winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern mainly in northern Japan, and the Sea of Japan side will be prone to snow and rain. There are many sunny places on the Pacific side, and it looks like it will be a mild and sunny winter.



Snow and rain will fall intermittently on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk in Hokkaido, and in some places the rain will be heavier in the morning. Please be careful of increasing snowfall mainly along the mountains. In addition, there will be strong winds along the coast, and there will be places where it snows. Please be careful when driving as visibility may deteriorate due to snowstorms.
There will be many sunny places on the Pacific side of northern Japan.

On the other hand, it will be sunny in many places from eastern to western Japan. During the day, the temperature will continue to be high and the weather will be pleasant and sunny. The weather will be fine for going out.
There are some places in Hokuriku where snow and rain will remain until the morning, but it is expected to gradually stop.

It looks like the weather will be sunny and calm in the main island of Okinawa as well.

[Warning-level heavy snow] Winter General will attack next week and will remain for a long time Heavy snow and low temperature of "once in 10 years" level

2026/01/17 12:23

Weekly Weather Forecast
#Tomorrow is the 2nd day of the common university entrance test. What is the weather like
#Winter General attacks next week, stays for a long time with the strongest cold air and warning-level heavy snow on the Japan Sea side
#Turns from early spring's cheerful weather with low temperatures starting around the 21st



#Tomorrow is the 2nd day of the common test for university entrance. What is the weather like
A cold vortex with cold air in the sky is expected to move east-southeast near Hokkaido from the night of Saturday the 17th to the morning of Sunday the 18th tomorrow.
On the ground, a low pressure system west of the Soya Strait will move southward west of Hokkaido into the morning of tomorrow, the 18th (Sunday), as a cold vortex moves east-southeast.
Tomorrow, the 18th (Sunday), is the second day of the common university entrance test.
The area around the low-pressure area is expected to experience increased snowfall locally due to the influence of cold air in the upper atmosphere.
From tomorrow, the 18th (Sunday), please be careful of traffic disruptions due to heavy snow in Hokkaido, and be careful of lightning strikes, gusts of wind, and avalanches.
There will be places where it will snow in the morning on the Sea of Japan side of Tohoku and Hokuriku.
On the day of the test, road conditions may deteriorate and transportation may be disrupted, so it is best to arrive at the venue with plenty of time to spare.
After the evening, more places in Hokuriku will stop snowing, and at night the area of snowfall on the Sea of Japan side of northeastern Japan will become narrower.
From the Kanto region to western Japan, the weather is sunny and the temperature is rising, and on the Pacific side, you may feel the heat even in winter clothes.
The air will be dry, so please take good care of your throat and physical condition before taking the exam.



#Winter General will attack next week and will stay for a long time Strongest cold air and warning level heavy snow on the Sea of Japan side
Winter General will attack next week and is expected to stay for a long time.
Next week on the 20th (Tuesday), a low pressure system will move east of Japan, creating a winter-like pressure pattern around Japan.
Also, cold air with temperatures below -6 degrees Celsius at around 1,500 meters above the ground, which is a guideline for snow in flat areas, is expected to remain over Japan from the 20th (Tuesday) to the 25th (Sunday).
Among these, the particularly strong cold air will reach its peak around the 21st (Wednesday) to the 22nd (Thursday), when very strong cold air with temperatures below -12c at around 1,500 meters above the ground will flow into eastern and western Japan as well.



The coldest air of the season is expected to flow into the vicinity of Japan, and the winter-like pressure pattern is expected to strengthen.
On the Sea of Japan side, be careful of increasing snowfall, heavy snow, and blizzard.
If the JPCZ (Japan Sea Polar Air Mass Convergence Zone) is formed, where northerly winds and westerly winds converge, it will snow heavily locally, increasing the possibility of warning-level heavy snowfall mainly in the Hokuriku and San-in Sea of Japan sides.
In addition, the Japan Meteorological Agency announced early weather information on the 15th (Thursday), stating that there is a possibility of significant snowfall for five days from around the 21st (Wednesday) in the Tohoku region, the San-in area on the Sea of Japan side, northern Nagano prefecture, northern Gunma prefecture, and mountainous areas of Gifu prefecture.
At this time of year, there are likely to be some places that experience heavy snowfall, which is on a once-in-a-decade level.



There is a risk of large-scale stranding due to heavy snow, so
Please be careful and be on guard against traffic obstructions.
Also, snow may accumulate on power lines, causing power outages.
It would be a good idea to prepare for power outages and stock up on food.
This time, General Winter will remain for a long time, so there is a risk that transportation will be affected for a long time.



#A complete change from the early spring weather Low temperature trend starting around the 21st
The Japan Meteorological Agency announced early weather information on the 15th (Thursday), stating that the average temperature for 5 days starting around the 21st (Wednesday) will be quite low nationwide.
This week, there were some places where the weather was as warm as early April, but from around the 20th (Tuesday) in northern Japan, and from around the 21st (Wednesday) nationwide, the temperature will turn colder than normal.

Typhoon No. 1: General Winter will hit Japan next week. The typhoon is unlikely to move north and will have no impact on Japan [Latest typhoon course forecast]

2026/01/16 11:41

As of 9 a.m. today, Friday the 16th, Typhoon No. 1 (Nocaen) is moving north-northwest east of the Philippines at 15 km/h.



From tomorrow until the 18th (Sunday), it will move northwest to the east of the Philippines and develop slightly.
Afterwards, it is expected to slow its movement east of Luzon Island, change its course to the east, weaken, and turn into a tropical cyclone east of the Philippines by 9 a.m. on the 21st (Wednesday).

#Typhoon No. 1 January 16th (Friday) 9:00 a.m.
Area of existence: East of the Philippines
Center location: 11 10'N latitude, 128 55'E
Direction of travel, speed North-northwest, 15 km/h
Central pressure 1000 hPa
Maximum wind speed 18 m/s (near the center)
Maximum instantaneous wind speed 25 m/s
Strong wind area 390 km on the north side, 220 km on the south side km

Next week, General Winter will hit the area near Japan, and the strong cold air will move south, making it difficult for the typhoon to move north, so it is not expected to have any impact on the Japanese archipelago.
This is the first typhoon in about two months since Typhoon No. 27 (Koto) that occurred on November 25th last year. This is the first typhoon of the year.



Looking at the average number of typhoons, January to March is the period with the lowest number of typhoons of the year, at 0.3 each.
Also, even when typhoons occur, they almost never approach the Japanese archipelago, and since statistics began in 2019, no typhoons have been recorded to approach the Japanese archipelago between January and March.

Above-average snowfall mainly on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan; snow depth exceeds 3m in Sukayu, Aomori Prefecture (weather summary from January 4th to January 10th, 2026)

2026/01/16 06:24

This is a summary of the weather for this period (January 4th to January 10th, 2026).

#Summary of the weather for this period (January 4th to January 10th)
The average temperature remained almost at normal levels from Tohoku to Kyushu, although the winter-like pressure pattern continued, but there were also periods when warm air flowed in due to the influence of low pressure. On the other hand, the Sea of Okhotsk in Hokkaido, Okinawa, and Amami were relatively susceptible to the effects of cold air in the upper atmosphere, so temperatures tended to be below normal.

Precipitation exceeded normal levels from the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan to the Hokuriku region due to increased snowfall as strong cold air moved southward. On the other hand, from the Pacific side of Tohoku to the Pacific side of eastern Japan and western Japan, as well as Okinawa and Amami, rainfall was well below normal, and many locations, such as Sendai, Tokyo, and Nagoya, recorded total rainfall of 0 mm for the period.

Sunshine hours tended to exceed normal levels, especially in western Japan, which tends to be covered by high pressure. On the other hand, in northern Japan, which was susceptible to the effects of cold air above, low pressure, and fronts, many places, including Muroran, Akita, and Sendai, had temperatures below normal.



[About this period's weather]
#Characteristics of pressure distribution
On the 4th, a strong winter-like pressure distribution will continue near Honshu. A low pressure system is moving eastward over the Sea of Okhotsk. On the 5th, winter-type atmospheric pressure continued to prevail around Honshu. Around 3:00 p.m., a low pressure system formed east of the Kanto region and moved eastward. On the 6th, the power of an anticyclone protruding from the west became dominant, and the winter-like pressure pattern gradually loosened. Late at night, a new low-pressure system formed in the Sea of Japan, rapidly developing over the 7th, and moving toward the Sakhalin area. On the same day, another low pressure system formed near the Boso Peninsula and south of Honshu, each moving eastward. On the 8th, the area near Honshu experienced a strong winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern with high pressure in the west and low pressure in the east, and strong cold air in the upper atmosphere moved south toward Honshu. On the 9th, the cold air moved northward, and the area around Honshu was covered by a high-pressure system extending from the west, temporarily loosening the winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern. Meanwhile, a low pressure system near northern China is moving eastward, and the front is gradually becoming clearer. On the 10th, the low pressure system rapidly developed as it moved through the Sea of Japan. Another low pressure system formed near the Nansei Islands and moved eastward, and another front stalled on the southern coast of Honshu during the night.

#Precipitation
On the 4th, it snowed widely from the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan to the Hokuriku region. It continued to rain intermittently in the southern Tohoku and northern Kanto regions, with 39 cm of snow falling over a 24-hour period in Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture. On the 5th, snow continued mainly on the Sea of Japan side, and in some places along the coast of northern Japan it became a blizzard. In Hokuriku, precipitation gradually changes from snow to rain. On the 6th, snow continued to fall in northern Japan, and Sukayu in Aomori Prefecture recorded the deepest snow depth of 313 cm, making it the first snowfall in the country to exceed 3 meters this season. On the 7th, snow fell in the Kanto region from dawn until morning due to a low pressure system near the Boso Peninsula. In the afternoon, the area of snow and rain spread due to the influence of a low pressure system and front. On the 8th, as strong cold air moved southward, snow became heavier mainly on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan. In Sapporo, snowfall amounted to 40 cm in 12 hours, breaking the highest snowfall from last winter. Heavy snow warning announced in Hokkaido and Niigata prefectures. On the 9th, the winter-like pressure pattern gradually eased, but snow began to fall at night on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan due to the influence of a local front. On the 10th, the weather turned downhill due to the effects of a low pressure system and front. It rained in many places during the day, but at night it turned to snow, and the rainfall became heavier in some areas.

#Temperature
On the 4th, a morning minimum temperature of -21.8c was observed in Rikubetsu, Hokkaido. Temperatures did not rise during the day, and the whole country was in the middle of winter. On the 5th, almost all of Hokkaido was in the middle of winter. Temperatures are rising in eastern and western Japan, and in Tokyo the temperature was 12.8 C, the same level as in March. White plum blossoms bloom in Shizuoka. On the 6th, temperatures across the country dropped from the previous day due to the influence of cold air moving south. The highest temperature in Tottori, where the strong earthquake occurred, was 4.7c, 6.7c lower than the previous day. On the 7th, it was extremely cold in the morning, and in Rikubetsu Town, Hokkaido, the lowest temperature in Japan this season (as of January 7th) was recorded at -27.6c. Despite snow and rain, the highest temperature in Tokyo was 6.4 degrees Celsius, tied for the lowest temperature of the season on December 27th. On the 8th, midwinter cold continued across the country. The maximum temperature in many places did not reach 10c, and the maximum temperature in Osaka was 9.2c. On the 9th, the maximum daytime temperature remained near normal in many places. In Miyakojima, the flowering of Hikanzakura was announced. On the 10th, temperatures rose nationwide as cold air moved northward. On the Sea of Japan side, temperatures rose due to the Foehn phenomenon, and the maximum temperature in Kanazawa was 14.4 degrees Celsius, about as warm as early April.

Above-average snowfall mainly on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan; snow depth exceeds 3m in Sukayu, Aomori Prefecture (weather summary from January 4th to January 10th, 2026)

2026/01/16 06:24

This is a summary of the weather for this period (January 4th to January 10th, 2026).

#Summary of the weather for this period (January 4th to January 10th)
The average temperature remained almost at normal levels from Tohoku to Kyushu, although the winter-like pressure pattern continued, but there were also periods when warm air flowed in due to the influence of low pressure. On the other hand, the Sea of Okhotsk in Hokkaido, Okinawa, and Amami were relatively susceptible to the effects of cold air in the upper atmosphere, so temperatures tended to be below normal.

Precipitation exceeded normal levels from the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan to the Hokuriku region due to increased snowfall as strong cold air moved southward. On the other hand, from the Pacific side of Tohoku to the Pacific side of eastern Japan and western Japan, as well as Okinawa and Amami, rainfall was well below normal, and many locations, such as Sendai, Tokyo, and Nagoya, recorded total rainfall of 0 mm for the period.

Sunshine hours tended to exceed normal levels, especially in western Japan, which tends to be covered by high pressure. On the other hand, in northern Japan, which was susceptible to the effects of cold air above, low pressure, and fronts, many places, including Muroran, Akita, and Sendai, had temperatures below normal.



[About this period's weather]
#Characteristics of pressure distribution
On the 4th, a strong winter-like pressure distribution will continue near Honshu. A low pressure system is moving eastward over the Sea of Okhotsk. On the 5th, winter-type atmospheric pressure continued to prevail around Honshu. Around 3:00 p.m., a low pressure system formed east of the Kanto region and moved eastward. On the 6th, the power of an anticyclone protruding from the west became dominant, and the winter-like pressure pattern gradually loosened. Late at night, a new low-pressure system formed in the Sea of Japan, rapidly developing over the 7th, and moving toward the Sakhalin area. On the same day, another low pressure system formed near the Boso Peninsula and south of Honshu, each moving eastward. On the 8th, the area near Honshu experienced a strong winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern with high pressure in the west and low pressure in the east, and strong cold air in the upper atmosphere moved south toward Honshu. On the 9th, the cold air moved northward, and the area around Honshu was covered by a high-pressure system extending from the west, temporarily loosening the winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern. Meanwhile, a low pressure system near northern China is moving eastward, and the front is gradually becoming clearer. On the 10th, the low pressure system rapidly developed as it moved through the Sea of Japan. Another low pressure system formed near the Nansei Islands and moved eastward, and another front stalled on the southern coast of Honshu during the night.

#Precipitation
On the 4th, it snowed widely from the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan to the Hokuriku region. It continued to rain intermittently in the southern Tohoku and northern Kanto regions, with 39 cm of snow falling over a 24-hour period in Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture. On the 5th, snow continued mainly on the Sea of Japan side, and in some places along the coast of northern Japan it became a blizzard. In Hokuriku, precipitation gradually changes from snow to rain. On the 6th, snow continued to fall in northern Japan, and Sukayu in Aomori Prefecture recorded the deepest snow depth of 313 cm, making it the first snowfall in the country to exceed 3 meters this season. On the 7th, snow fell in the Kanto region from dawn until morning due to a low pressure system near the Boso Peninsula. In the afternoon, the area of snow and rain spread due to the influence of a low pressure system and front. On the 8th, as strong cold air moved southward, snow became heavier mainly on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan. In Sapporo, snowfall amounted to 40 cm in 12 hours, breaking the highest snowfall from last winter. Heavy snow warning announced in Hokkaido and Niigata prefectures. On the 9th, the winter-like pressure pattern gradually eased, but snow began to fall at night on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan due to the influence of a local front. On the 10th, the weather turned downhill due to the effects of a low pressure system and front. It rained in many places during the day, but at night it turned to snow, and the rainfall became heavier in some areas.

#Temperature
On the 4th, a morning minimum temperature of -21.8c was observed in Rikubetsu, Hokkaido. Temperatures did not rise during the day, and the whole country was in the middle of winter. On the 5th, almost all of Hokkaido was in the middle of winter. Temperatures are rising in eastern and western Japan, and in Tokyo the temperature was 12.8 C, the same level as in March. White plum blossoms bloom in Shizuoka. On the 6th, temperatures across the country dropped from the previous day due to the influence of cold air moving south. The highest temperature in Tottori, where the strong earthquake occurred, was 4.7c, 6.7c lower than the previous day. On the 7th, it was extremely cold in the morning, and in Rikubetsu Town, Hokkaido, the lowest temperature in Japan this season (as of January 7th) was recorded at -27.6c. Despite snow and rain, the highest temperature in Tokyo was 6.4 degrees Celsius, tied for the lowest temperature of the season on December 27th. On the 8th, midwinter cold continued across the country. The maximum temperature in many places did not reach 10c, and the maximum temperature in Osaka was 9.2c. On the 9th, the maximum daytime temperature remained near normal in many places. In Miyakojima, the flowering of Hikanzakura was announced. On the 10th, temperatures rose nationwide as cold air moved northward. On the Sea of Japan side, temperatures rose due to the Foehn phenomenon, and the maximum temperature in Kanazawa was 14.4 degrees Celsius, about as warm as early April.

Latest 1-month forecast: Beware of heavy snow and low temperatures that occur once every 10 years from around the 21st

2026/01/16 06:16

On the 15th (Thursday), the Japan Meteorological Agency announced the latest one-month forecast, which shows the weather outlook for the next month.



The monthly mean sea level pressure is expected to be higher than normal from Siberia to East Asia, and lower than normal over the sea east of Japan.
The Siberian High and the Aleutian Low are both expected to be strong, and the winter-like pressure pattern is likely to become stronger near Japan. Temperatures around 1,500 meters above sea level are expected to be lower than normal nationwide, making the region susceptible to strong cold air.




In addition, the Japan Meteorological Agency has released "early weather information regarding heavy snow" and "early weather information regarding low temperatures." These announcements are made when there is a higher than usual chance of significant snowfall and extremely low temperatures, a level that occurs once every 10 years.




From now until around the 20th (Tuesday), temperatures are expected to be higher than normal in some places, mainly in western and eastern Japan, and the weather will be warmer than usual. However, from around the 21st (Wednesday), the weather will take a turn and the area around Honshu will be affected by strong cold air in the upper atmosphere. It is predicted that the whole country will experience severe cold, and there is a high possibility that heavy snowfall will occur, especially on the Sea of Japan coast from Tohoku to the Sanin area, resulting in warning-level heavy snowfall. Please be aware of traffic problems caused by heavy snow and poor visibility caused by blizzard. Also, please be careful not to freeze water pipes due to low temperatures and manage crops.

Western Japan and the Pacific side of eastern Japan have very little precipitation, and the air is likely to remain dry. The situation where fires are likely to occur is expected to continue, so please be careful when handling fire.

Tomorrow, the 16th (Friday), there is a possibility of yellow sand flying due to the warmth ahead of the season.

2026/01/15 20:40

Tomorrow, the 16th (Friday), the area around Honshu will have a winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern centered on northern Japan.



Intermittent rain and snow are expected on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan, and rain is expected in many places in Hokuriku. Westerly winds will become stronger, and some areas on the Sea of Japan side of the northeast will experience snowstorms. In areas with heavy snowfall, be careful of road conditions, snow falling from roofs, avalanches, etc.
The range of rain and snow is expected to gradually narrow from the evening onwards.



There will be many sunny places in eastern and western Japan. Daytime temperatures will be higher than normal in many places, and it will be as warm as March in many places. Temperatures are expected to reach 20 degrees Celsius in parts of southern Kyushu, such as Kagoshima, and there are likely to be places where it will be as warm as April.



Tomorrow, the 16th (Friday), there is a possibility that yellow sand will fly from western Japan to eastern Japan. Looking at the forecast for yellow dust, it is predicted that it will cover almost the entire area from Tohoku to Kyushu.
The air is expected to be drier on the Pacific side of western Japan and eastern Japan, so if you are sensitive, please take precautions such as wearing a mask when going out. Also, please be careful as yellow sand may adhere to laundry, cars, etc. It seems best to dry your laundry indoors.